Live And Let Go: About the Film

Summary
In June of 1998, Sam Niver, 76, sat on his deck overlooking a coastal bay in rural Sneads Ferry, NC. He had terminal prostate cancer, the end was near, and he faced a choice of where to die: in a hospital, as his wife did recently, or at home, hopefully on his own terms.

Sam believed firmly that a doctor should be able to help him die with dignity, so he hoped to make a statement for physician-assisted suicide. He let a daily newspaper tell his story, and he invited his son and a close family friend to document his final months and days on videotape.

Sam prepared "thank you" notes to be sent posthumously to his closest friends.


Sam last saw his grandchildren a week before his death, when they came to visit for Father's Day and present Grandpa with an over-sized card... They didn't know it would be the last time they'd see him.	Armed with hours of interviews, riveting footage, and a vast family collection of photos and memories, writer Jay Niver, cinematographer Jay Spain and editor David Iversen compiled a 60-minute documentary of Sam’s life and death. Their goal was to share one man’s story about death with dignity, while remembering a generation of World War II veterans that is fast disappearing. Sam’s tale is told in segments that alternate between the solemn present — cancer, quality of life, legal concerns, the right to die and saying good-bye — and an upbeat past: Sam’s family and childhood, his WWII service, his profession, his civic life, his wife and children. The project was undertaken by Niver (an award-winning writer and journalist), Spain (who owns his own film/video production company, The Communications Group) and Iversen (who directs and produces in addition to editing), with artistic and financial input from co-producer Gretchen Niver, Sam’s daughter. The group had no financial backing, but a deep sense of purpose — plus respect and loyalty to Sam — kept them firmly committed to the right to die.
Producers are now making Live and Let Go available through Hemlock Society sales, while pursuing continued public broadcast opportunities and continued film-festival exposure. They are also seeking funds for conversion to 16-mm film. We are working with Ambrose Roche as our Canadian Distribution Agent and World Sales Agent. He can be contacted at (416) 787-3496 in Toronto. His email is AmbroseR@xe.net

All Material Copyright © 2003 Live And Let Go Productions, LLC P.O. Box 50157 Raleigh, NC 27650 info@liveandletgo.com 919-833-5454